Speech-Language Impairment
News & Announcements
VDOE New to Schools SLP Program
The VDOE New to Schools SLP Program is accepting registrations for the fall 2021-2022 school year. This program is intended for recent graduates/Clinical Fellows, SLP new to Virginia, and SLPs that are new to working in a school setting regardless of years of experience. Register online for the 2021-2022 program
to receive materials and announcements for two online professional development sessions and live question and answer sessions.
Virginia School SLP Updates & News
Virginia School Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) Updates and News is designed to establish a direct line of communication with school based SLPs. The goal of Virginia School SLP Updates and News is to provide a way to share new resources as well as make SLPs aware of professional development opportunities, and other information of special interest to school-based SLPs.
Lead SLPs should encourage their SLPs and SLPAs to sign up to receive these free Virginia School SLP Updates and News emails directly from VDOE. To sign up for this service, visit Subscribe to SLP Updates and News.
Speech-language impairments can impact the way a student communicates. Speech errors include errors when producing specific sounds that are not a result of normal development or language acquisition, dysfluency (stuttering), or motor speech issues. Students may also receive therapy for improving the understanding and use of spoken or written language, pragmatics, and meta-linguistic skills. Students with swallowing disorders or dysphagia can also receive services from speech-language pathologists (SLP) in Virginia public schools.
Students must meet Virginia eligibility criteria to be found eligible for services as a student with a speech language impairment or can receive speech-language therapy as a related service if included in the student’s IEP. For general information on related services visit the related services page.
SLP Resources
- Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Services in the Schools: Guidelines for Best Practice
- SLP Services in the Schools: Guidelines for Best Practice (2018) - ADA Compliant Word Version
- SLP Services in the Schools: Guidelines for Best Practice (2018) - Original PDF Version
- SLP Services in Schools 2020 Revisions-This is a PDF document. - This file contains the revised pages to replace pages on auditory processing, speech sound disorders, and an evaluation graphic. This can be printed and used to replace outdated pages.
- SLP Services in Schools: Guidelines for Best Practice (2011) Revised Pages Only-This is a PDF document. - This PDF contains only revised pages 6, 7 and 98. This can be printed and used to replace the three outdated pages.
Evidence Based Practice (EBP)
- Talking EBP – This project is funded in part by a grant from VDOE. Subscribe to a free, digital newsletter that provides updates to SLPs twice each year. Information that is relevant to evidence based practices (EBP) in schools is summarized in a quick and easy to read format. The newsletter addresses practice issues related to serving students in public schools from 2 to 21 years of age. Issues include relevant research that focuses on EBP highlights for a variety of communication deficits.
- Summer 2021 Talking EBP (Articulation Norms & Apraxia)-This is a PDF document.
- Fall 2020 Talking EBP (Language intervention)-This is a Word document.
- Spring 2020 Talking EBP (COVID-19 & Telepractice)-This is a Word document.
- Fall 2019 Talking EBP (Syntax-Vocabulary-Social Impact)-This is a Word document.
- Spring 2019 Talking EBP (Stuttering and Expository Intervention)-This is a Word document.
- Fall 2018 Talking EBP (Nonverbal-Grammar-Speech Sound Disorders)-This is a Word document.
- Spring 2018 Talking EBP (Risk Factors, Curriculum, Bilingual)-This is a Word document.
- Fall 2017 Talking EBP (Complex Language - Speech Sound Disorders -SUGAR)-This is a Word document.
- Spring 2017 Talking EBP (Practice Guidelines & Service Delivery)-This is a PDF document.
- Fall 2016 Talking EBP (Auditory Processing & AAE)-This is a PDF document.
- Spring 2016 Talking EBP (Recasts & Dialect)-This is a PDF document.
- Fall 2015 Talking EBP (SLP Outcomes-Norms for Narratives)-This is a PDF document.
- Spring 2015 Talking EBP (Cognitive Tests & Apraxia)-This is a PDF document.
- Fall 2014 Talking EBP (Apraxia & Spelling)-This is a PDF document.
- Spring 2014 Talking EBP (Parent Intervention- Writing-diagnostic Accuracy)-This is a PDF document.
- Fall 2013 Talking EBP (Stuttering and EBP in Schools)-This is a PDF document.
- 2013 Special Topic Issue Talking EBP (Morphological Awareness)-This is a PDF document.
- Fall 2013 Talking EBP (Bilingual Evaluation- Dialect - Narratives)-This is a PDF document.
- Fall 2012 Talking EBP (Pragmatics -Literate Lexicon)-This is a PDF document.
- Spring 2012 Talking EBP (Service Delivery - EBP)-This is a PDF document.
- Fall 2011 Talking EBP (Auditory Processing & CAPD Tests)-This is a PDF document.
- Spring 2011 Talking EBP (Oral Motor & AAE)-This is a PDF document.
Evaluating Websites
- Evaluating Evidence from Internet Searches-This is a Word document. – A list of questions to consider when reviewing internet information.
- Web Site Review Checklist-This is a Word document. – A checklist to assist SLPs is evaluating assessment and treatment information obtained from the internet.
Articulation
- Articulation Infographic for Teachers and Parents-This is a PDF document.
- Miccio Probe-This is a PDF document.
- Percent Consonants Correct Imitative Task-This is a PDF document.
- IPA Bookmark/Reference Card (PDF)
- Children's English Consonant Acquisition in the United States: A Review
- Evaluating Children in U.S. Public Schools With Speech Sound Disorders Considering Federal and State Laws, Guidance, and Research
VDOE Language Resources
- Writing Skills Progression by Grade (PDF)
- Grammar Skills Progression by Grade (PDF)
- English SOL Vocabulary Resources
- Virginia’s Foundation Blocks For Early Learning: Comprehensive Standards for Four-Year-Olds-This is a Word document.
- Language & Culture
Comprehensive Assessment Resources
- Comprehensive Assessment Reference Card
- 2018 Four Additional Tests
- Narrative Analysis for Picture Prompted Stories (PDF)
- School Age Language Measure (SLAM) Cards (PDF)
- Sampling Utterances Grammatical Analysis Revisited (SUGAR) Protocol-This is a Word document. (Word)
- SUGAR norms for Children Ages 3:0 to 10:11-This is a Word document. (Word)
Dysphagia
With advancements in medical technologies improving survival rates and changes in health provision limiting access to medical treatments, more children with swallowing problems are being directed to the public schools for services. Professional Development in this area is available from the VDOE. Visit American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for more information about serving students with dysphagia in the public schools.
Recruitment & Retention Resources
- Communication Sciences and Disorders Programs in Virginia (Word)
- SLP Assistants (PDF) – The special education staffing requirements (Virginia Special Education Regulations, 8 VAC 20-80-45) do not include a paraprofessional for speech-language caseloads. They are not allowed to practice independently and must be supervised by qualified staff.
Speech-Language Pathologist Licensure
House Bill 373 – Licensing of Speech-language Pathologist to be Discontinued by the Board of Education and Required by the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (upon signature of Governor)
- Licensing of Speech-Language Pathologists – Superintendent's Memo, June 19, 2015
Resources
- Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology
- Regulations Governing Speech Language Pathology and Continuing Competency Requirements (Word)
- Guidance for Continuing Education Audits
Applications
- Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology School Only SLP Licensure Application (Word)
- Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology Full License Application-This is a Word document.
Outside Resources
- Evaluation and Eligibility for Speech-Language Services in Schools – ASHA Perspectives: publication of Special Interest Group 16: School Based Issues
- ASHA Schools Virtual Town Hall
- K-5 Language Development Milestones
- Beginning with Babble – mobile app for parents and caregivers with children from zero to four years old. The app reminds caregivers to interact with their children through a variety of developmentally appropriate stimuli and ideas.
- Language Development and Literacy Handouts
- Audiogram of Familiar Sounds (English and Spanish)
- Iowa DOE Effective Communication Decision Tree
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
- Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia (SHAV)
- Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
- Virginia Healthcare Workforce Data Results: Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
- VA Relay – Virginia Relay enables people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or speech disabled to communicate by TTY or another assistive telephone device with anyone who uses a standard phone.